Combined strainer and regulator for gas refrigerating apparatus



R. G. DoWINs 1,863,103

R FOR GAS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS June 14, 1932.

COMBINED STRAINER AND REGULATO Filed Feb. 4, 1951 Patented June 14, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD G. DOWINS, 0F PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PITTSBURGH VEQU'I'IABIE METER COMPANY, OFPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORIORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA COMBINEDSTRAINER AND REGULATOR FOR GAS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application ledFebruary 4, 1931.

1 tion structures. Building these members as separate unitsv involves aneedless duplication of parts and increases the number of jointsnecessary in the pipe line, thus increasing leakage. My invention hasfor one of its objects the housing of these two members, strainer andregulator, in one unit, thus requiring a Jfewer number of parts whichgreatly reduces the cost of building the two necessary units. By joiningthe two in one unit, the number of joints in the pipe line isconsiderably reduced and the possibility of leakage is therebyminimized. In addition, the reduction in the number of joints reducesthe difficulties in assembling the Vmechanism and in cleaning outsediment from the parts.

By my invention the difficult cored inlet and outlet passages sofrequently necessary in the separate type of construction are done awaywith and the yoke member used to carry the valve in the regulator, adifficult type of construction, is also unnecessary. In my combinedstrainer and regulator the sediment is deposited on the outer or convexsurface of a hemispherical filter member and the sediment is very easilywashed olf by unscrewing a few thumbscrews and running water through thescreen from the inside, which is a very simple and readily accomplishedway of easily removing accumulated sediment.

In the drawing which forms a part of this specification and to whichreference is hereby made:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken along the longitudinal centerline of` my combined strainer and regulator.

Figure 2 isi a horizontal cross-sectional View taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure k1 with they strainer and drain valve removed.

Serial No. 513,438.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the central or body member of the combinedstrainer' and regulator casing of Figure 1 with the diaphragm assemblyand valve removed.

Figure 4 is an elevational View showing the diaphragm assembly, spring,and spring follower.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the valve and valve stem.

Figure G is a cross-sectional view substantially on the line 6 6 ofFigure 1.

From the drawing it will be noted that the device is housed in threehousing mem bers which may be of cast metal or any other suitablestructural material. In practice, brass is very desirable, or it may bemade of cast iron covered with a bronzing preparation to preventrusting. The top casting 10 contains the valve regulating structure; thebody casting 11 contains the inlet and outlet connections and hasprovision on the upper side for a regulator diaphragm and in the lowerside a reception cavity for a strainer; the bottom casting l2 supportsthe strainer and drain mechanism, and acts as a closure for theregulator valve.

Threaded inlet bore 13 is formed in body member 11, and threaded outletbore 14 communicating with the diaphragm chamber 15 through bore 16 issimilarly formed in member 11.

Bottom member 12 is formed with an extending lip or flange 17 which isformed to provide a seat for the lower annular portion 18 of the bodycasting. This annular portion seats on a rubber band 19 which forms aleak tight connection between the two castings 11 and 12. The lip orflange 17 is provided with four apertured lugs 2O (Fig. 2), through eachoi which lugs a wing bolt may be slipped. Each of these wing bolts isadapted to screw into screw-threaded lugs 22 (Fig. 3) formed on thelower annular partvlS of the body casting 11. Then these wing bolts areinserted and tightly screwed up the two members 11 and 12 are heldtightly and because of rubber ring 19, in a leakproof abuttingrelationship. When it is desired to remove the bottom cover or cap 12 toclean out the accumulated sediment or to repair or clean the strainer,all that it is necessary to dov is to unscrew the four thumbscrews 2l.It will be noted that the bottoni cap. or cover l2 acts as a sedimenttrap, the sediment or Adirt dropping downinto space 23 whereV it doesnot tend to plug up the drain valve openings.

The cover member l2 is formed with an upstanding protuberance 24, whichis bored out as shown at 25 to form a threaded seat for thek receptionof a drain outlet plug 26. This drain `outlet' plugj26 is bored out asshown at 27 to provide a drain opening. The upper surface oi member26 isprovided with r a threaded bore 28 on which a strainer member or screen29 is adapted to be screwed down, thus seating it and holding it firmlyin place.KA The screen or strainer is provided with a roller lip or edge30 which abuts up against andl lits accurately into the lower surface ofbody memberV ll. The protuberance 24is bored out as show to'provide ascrew threaded seat for a drain valve 3l which comprises a wing bolt.This bolt is bored out as Vshown at 32 to provide a drainage opening.AThe bolt 31 is provided with a rounded end portion 33 which forms thevalve stopping oil the opening 2'? when the bolt is screwed all the wayup, the rounded end 33 tightly abutting plug 26. `When the bolt orthumbscrew is turned the drain outlet is opened and a bypass isestablished from sediment chamber 23 so thatthe op-Y erator canV readilydetermine whether the water is flowing or whether the chamber needscleaning.

TheV body casting l1 is formed with a bottom'f34, that forms a dividingpartition in the device and is formed with an upstanding portion 35which provides a stop for the de.

lection or'l the diaphragm assembly when under stress of the pressurespring. The valve stem 36 of the valve 37 extends up through an aperturein this upstanding portion 35. The lower end of member 35 is providedwith a threaded bore oilarger diameter than the aperture extending allthe way through the member', and into this threaded bore as f shown, isscrewed the valve seat member 38, which provides a seat for valve 37. Asshown the valve stem 36, extends upward through a hole formed in thismember which hole is in alignment with the hole formed in member 35, andthe lower surface 39 of this member, is provided with an extendingsleeve 40, forming the valve seat, which coacts with the rubber insert4l in the valve 37 to form a Huid tight arrangement when the valve isclosed. Between members 35 and 39 may be inserted a washer 42.

Valve 37, as shown in detail in Fig. 5 is in l the form of a screwthreaded bolt with a threaded portion 43 which is adapted tol screw`into the diaphragm assembly as shown in Fig. l. One portion 44 of thebolt is cut awayV with projecting sleeve 40 to form a leaktight closingwhen the valve is closed. The head of the bolt which-forms the valvej37is provided with a slot 45 which allows the insertion or removal of thevalve by the use of a screw driver.

The diaphragm assembly is held between the top cover member l0 and thebody 'member l1, the top member Ybeing screwed down on'the body memberas shown;

vational view of Fig. 4, isheld between -brass diaphragm pans ot washertype 47l 'and 48.V

The diaphragm 46 may be made of leather or of a rubberized iabric,'an'd-is held spaced* from top cover 10, on its uppergsurface by a- The lowerdia# brass washer or ring 49. phragm pan member 47 is shown providedwith a threaded cylindrical projection 50 on which is screwed downattachment unit 5lr holding the entire assembly in a tight abuttingrelation. N ut 5l is provided with a projection 52 over which spring 53is adapted to slip, the lit being so tight ythat the spring issecurelyheld to the nut by thecontact above. The lower pan'memb'er 47 1s'formedpat its lower end of crown like or miter form as shown at 54, andis provided with a threaded aperture into which the threaded portion 43i of valve stem 36 is adapted to screw, thus securing the `valve tothediaphragm assembly,

The radial slot is provided in extension'54A to allow a free passage ofliquid from Vthe aperture around the valve stem 36, when the diaphragmassembly 46 is deflected under the pressure of spring 53. v

At the upper end of springk 53 is placed the brass spring follower 55,provided with a protuberance 56 that exactly itsthe upper end of thehelical spring. The spring iollower 55 is shown indented withindentation 5 7 against which adjustment "screw 58 bears. Thisadjustment screw is provided with `a square head 59, witha holeeXtendingthere-- through 60, and a lock nut 6l is adapted to` bear upagainst the top cover lO. The upper surface of this top cover l0 isprovided with Y a radially extending' rib` 62, formed with anA aperture63. Through holes 6() and 63, a seal- Y ing wire may be passed, and whenthe'seal 1s set 1n place the adjustment of the screw is held againsttampering oraccidental disc placement. As clearly apparent from `theconstruction, by loosening the lock nut 'G1 and rotating screw 58,the'deeree of compression or expansion of springs 53 may be varied 37maybe adjusted, and the outletV pressure The dla?.

phragm 46, as shown inFig. l and in the elef of the fluid pressureregulator changed to suit the needs of the installation.

In operation the fluid of which the pressure is to be regulated, whichin the gas refrigeration practice is water, comes in through inlet l andpasses into the sediment chamber 23; from there it passes through thescreen or filter 29 into regulating valve chamber 23', depositing allthe dirt and other solid impurities on the outer convex surface of thehemispherical screen 29.

From there it passes up Ythrough the regulating valve 3T which is heldin open position by the spring 53 pressing down the flexible diaghragm46. The fluid now enters diaphragm chamber 15 and exerts a pressure onthe flexible diaphragm 46, tending to compress the spring 53. Eventuallyther spring is compressed sufficiently by the fluid pressure to forcethe valve 37 up against the projecting sleeve 40, thus closing thevalve, sleeve 40 coacting with the rubber filler 4l to securely closethe valve and stop off the fluid flow.

The valve remains in this position until fiuid is drawn from the outlet16, which lowers the pressure in the diaphragm chamber 15 and allows thespring 53 to force diaphragm 46 downwardly, and valve 37 away from itsseat 38 until a state of equilibrium between the spring force on oneside and the fluid pressure on the other has been established. Theadjustment screw 58 rests on the spring follower 55 and may be adjustedto change the delivery pressure of the regulator to suit the demand asexplained above.

When the valve 37 is forced away from its valve seat 38, the fluid againiiows up through the channel formed by the cut away portion of valvestem 36 and the aperture in member 35, and again enters the regulatorchamber l5. Vhen sufficient pressure has been built up in this chamberto force diaphragm 46 upwardly against the action of springl 53, thevalve is again closed and flow of fluid into chamber l5 is againstopped. Thus the outlet pressure is regulated and the device isautomatic in its operation.

When the drain valve 31 is opened fluid is allowed to flow from thebypass 27 out through the outlet 32, and by this means the operator canreadily determine whether the fluid is flowing in sediment chamber 28 orwhether the chamber needs cleaning. It will be noted that the screen isvery readily removed by unscrewing it from support 28 and theaccumulated foreign matter may be readily washed from the removed screenby running water through it from the inside.

It will be appreciated that I have herein disclosed a combined regulatorand strainer, together in one unit, which requires a fewer number ofparts than the usual type of separate construction. By it allunnecessary joints have been done away with, thus reducing the danger ofleakage and also facilitates the assembly and cleaning of the mechanism.The device is very readily taken apart for cleaning or repair, and theregulator valve and the screen may be taken out without affecting thediaphragm. The regulator is an eflicient automatic outlet pressureregulator, and the outlet pressure may be very easily changed oradjusted by manipulation of an adjustment screw. The device is veryreadily disassembled and no difficult constructions are necessarybecause of the simplicity of the design, which also allows the combinedregulator and strainer to be built at low cost.

It will be appreciated that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essentialcharacteristics thereof. The present embodiment is the best known to be,but it is intended to be considered as illustrative and in no senserestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims rather than by the foregoing description. Thus for example, it isto be understood that I am not limited to any particular structuralmaterial for any of the parts, by reason of any statement in theforegoing specification as to the material of which they are formed inthis embodiment, and all changes which come within the meaning and rangeof equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embracedtherein.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In a combined pressure regulator and strainer, a housing having anopen bottom and closed top; an apertured partition disposed in saidhousing and .dividing the same into high and low pressure chambers; aflexible diaphragm disposed in said housing above said aperture; a panmember operatively associated with said diaphragm; a valve having thestem thereof 'extending through said aperture and threaded into said panmember; a closure for the bottom of said housing, said closure having ascreen disposed therein, the lower edge of said housing defining adownwardly facing seat against which the upper edge of said closureseats in sealing relation, the upper edge of said screen abuttingagainst the lower face of said partition and encompassing said aperture;and releasable means for holding said closure and screen in clampingengagement with their respective seats,

whereby when said means are released, said closure and screen may bedropped away from said housing and said valve may be unscrewed andremoved from the device for purposes of cleaning or grinding.

2. In a combined pressure regulator and strainer, a housing having anopen bottom and closed top; an apertured partition disposed in saidhousing and dividing the same into high and low pressure chambers, avalve member extending through said partition aperture havingl a head.disposed below said partition and cooperating therewith to controlfluid flow through said aperture from said high pressure chamber intosaid low pressure chamber; fluid pressure controlled means associatedwith said Valve member for controlling the movement thereof; asubstantially cup-shaped closure for the open t bottom of said housing,a substantially cupshaped screen located within said closure, saidclosure and screen being disposed lin spaced, nested, cooperatingrelationship; the lower edge of said housing defining a downwardlyfacing annular sheet against which the upper edge of said closure seatsin sealing relation; the upper periphery of said screen seating againstthe lower faceof said partition in sealing engagement therewith; meansfor detachably holding said closure in clamping engagement with itsseat, and means lokcated'on the inner wall of said closure member nearthe apex thereof for supporting said screen in clamping engagement withits seat whereby, when vsaid means are released said closure and screenmay be dropped away from the housing for cleaning or other purposes andat the same time said valve may be operated upon.

In testimony whereof l aix my signature.

R. G. DOWINS.

